65535


I'm learning Japanese on Duolingo.

I was wondering:

学校は日本にあります means 'The school is in Japan'

What is the difference between 学校は日本にあります and the Japanese translation of
'There is a school in Japan'? I thought arimasu could be translated as 'there
is'...

Thanks in advance


CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-16T11:22:23.623
65534
2019-02-18T07:46:52.237
2019-02-18T07:46:52.237
32982
32982
question
grammar translation meaning
Subject and extra information


If I am not mistaken this question is not about です at all (if so, please
change the title). It seems to be a matter of focus and of what is already
known.

> 学校 **は** 日本にあります。

means 'Talking about the school, it is in Japan.' We know of the school and we
give extra information about it.

On the other hand,

> 日本に(は)学校 **が** あります。

takes Japan for granted (so to speak) and we say something about it: 'In Japan
there are schools.'


CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-16T11:30:49.957
65535
2019-02-16T11:30:49.957
30039
65534
answer